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An extractive pellet fluorimetric determination of trace uranium in thorium rich samples

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Abstract

An extractive pellet fluorimetry determination of trace uranium in thorium rich samples has been developed. This is based upon a solvent extraction system which completely separates both the elements uranium and thorium from each other. Thorium as a neutral complex with 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene at pH 4–6 is extracted into ethylacetate and then uranium-2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene anionic complex is extracted into another batch of ethylacetate at pH 11–12 under the influence of a counter cation, cetyltrimethylammonium ion. This method has been applied for the determination of trace uranium in synthetic nuclear grade thorium oxide and thorium rich mineralized rock with high degree of accuracy and precision.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their sincere thanks and gratitude to Dr. L. K. Nanda, Director, AMD for his kind permission to publish the paper. The authors are also thankful to Dr. D. K. Sinha, Regional Director and Shri A. K. Padhi, Dy. Regional Director, AMD, Eastern Region, Jamshedpur for providing necessary facilities to carry out the work. Also, the authors are thankful to Dr. G. Chakrapani, Head, Chemistry Group, for his constant encouragement, support and motivation to do the work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chemical Laboratory, Department of Atomic Energy, Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Eastern Region, AMD Complex, Khasmahal, Jamshedpur, 831002, India

    Pranab Kumar Tarafder, Susanta Kumar Pradhan & Shaswati Roychowdhury

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  1. Pranab Kumar Tarafder
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  2. Susanta Kumar Pradhan
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  3. Shaswati Roychowdhury
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Correspondence to Susanta Kumar Pradhan.

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Tarafder, P.K., Pradhan, S.K. & Roychowdhury, S. An extractive pellet fluorimetric determination of trace uranium in thorium rich samples. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 316, 527–534 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-5797-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-018-5797-1

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